Meeting Young Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs in Nigeria

Topic

International

Key Points

Educational attainment of young women in Nigeria has increased in all parts of the country since 1990, but levels and trends vary widely across regions; by 2003, the proportion of women aged 15–19 having some secondary education ranged from 17% in the North West to 78% in the South East.

The proportion of young women living in urban areas has risen in all regions except the South West. n The prevalence of marriage among female adolescents declined in Nigeria, from 39% to 33%, between 1990 and 2003. As of the latter year, early marriage was far more common in the North East and North West regions (59–73%) than in the southern regions (3–10%).

Early childbearing is also declining but still common: In 2003, almost one in three women aged 20–24 had had a child by age 18. n Use of modern contraceptives among sexually active female adolescents has increased in most parts of the country but remains extremely low. Nationally, the proportion using modern methods doubled from 4% in 1990 to 8% in 2003. It is far higher in the South South and South West (26–39%) than in other regions.

Nearly one-third of sexually active women aged 15–24 had an unmet need for modern contraceptives in 2003. n Government policies and strategies promoting the sexual and reproductive health of young people in Nigeria have not been successfully carried out.

International, national and local nongovernmental organizations are implementing programs to promote the reproductive health of Nigerian youth. n Improving the sexual and reproductive health of young people will require coordination of disparate efforts; financial commitment on the part of the federal and state governments; and consideration of the varying religious, sociocultural, familial and educational circumstances of adolescents in Nigeria.

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